Meet Kim Grant

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kim Grant a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kim, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

I grew up in a blue collar family. My father was an asphalt layer all of his life and my mother was a life-long employee of the Illinois state government. My grandfather (maternal) was a contractor with a construction business. I learned about hardwork from all of them.

Before coming to public relations, I worked many years in the service industry. I did every job, bussing tables, waiting tables, bartending, and eventually worked up to Manager and Event Planner. I remember a co-worker in a restaurant once said, “Bring your best service to every table. You could be waiting on people that save money all year, just to celebrate something at this restaurant.” That stuck with me. It applies to public relations, also. People put their heart and soul into their music, working other jobs to pay for their art. When they hand both their art, and money to me, I take that very seriously and want to do the best job possible for them.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I have been a freelance music publicist for seventeen years now! I work under the moniker of KG Music Press. Before moving to Los Angeles, I was an event planner in Chicago and we had a stage in our venue that frequently booked artists and bands. To make the transition to music publicist, I took an internship in my 40s, learning the ropes at Fly PR. (Shoutout to Ilka Errin Paradinas, who makes a terrific mentor to new interns every year!) I was also booking bands at the time at a local club called, The Echo. Liz Garo, Pam Moore and I started an Americana music night called The Grand Ole Echo, which continues to this day with Ben Reddell at the helm. I was immersed in music and still am to this day. I even married a drummer!

During the covid lockdown I became a bit obsessed with youtube videos of people that sold vintage jewelry and made jewelry. I already had a hobby Etsy shop that sold vintage clothing so I made the move to sell jewelry only. It’s become a second business for me and something I love doing in my spare time. I sell vintage Southwestern-inspired jewelry and I also make pieces that go up in my shop. It’s called, Sierra Madre Vintage, which is a nod to my husband’s home town, and somewhere we lived for a few years.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Communication and Relationship-Building are very important. In publicity, everything starts with genuine connection, whether it’s with artists, journalists, or audiences. The ability to listen deeply, communicate clearly, and build trust has been the cornerstone of my career. Over time, I’ve learned that authenticity always outperforms “networking.”
The advice I would give? Practice active listening. Instead of thinking about what you want to say next, focus fully on what the other person is saying. Relationships grow from sincerity, not strategy.

Adaptability and Curiosity are necessary. The music and media landscapes are constantly shifting, from print to blogs to social media to streaming. Staying curious and adaptable has allowed me to evolve with those changes rather than be left behind. My advice? Stay a lifelong learner. Read widely, pay attention to what excites people, and don’t be afraid to experiment with new tools or approaches. Curiosity is a renewable resource. A few years ago, I bought the book, “Instagram for Dummies” knowing that social media takes adaptability.

Creative Vision and Storytelling is something that excites me. Whether promoting an album or creating jewelry, everything I do centers around storytelling , finding the emotional truth and presenting it in a way that resonates. Understanding how to shape and share a story is both an art and a skill that deepens over time.
I would suggest for people to study the stories that move them. Songs, films, art, or writing, whatever excites you and analyze why they work. The more you understand how story connects us, the more powerful your own communication becomes.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

My biggest challenge has been keeping up with the constant evolution of technology. I wouldn’t call myself a natural tech person, but I’m committed to learning and adapting, even when it takes a little longer or tests my patience. I’ve found that approaching it with curiosity (and a sense of humor) helps me stay open and keep growing.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Selfie! Taken by me.
4 live photos taken by me in Nashville for Americanafest 2025: KP Hawthorn, Rosie Flores, John Surge & The Haymakers and The Far West
2 pics of jewelry from my shop taken by me

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